What the heck do Translators actually Do?

I keep seeing memes like this one, and though they make me chuckle, nothing could be further from the truth.

The Myth

The sheer number of times I’ve been told that my neighbour’s teenage son did one year of French (or English), and so my prospective client would check with him and see if he could handle it for free.

This myth that anyone who can speak two different languages to any degree of fluency, could translate any manner or text could not be further from the truth! I mean, sure, Google translate is great and all, but the lists of Google translate fails is as hilarious as it is endless.

So what do we Translators actually do?

Well, it really all comes down to everyone’s area of expertise. So, while I am convinced that other translators are superheroes in their own respective fields, here are a few superpowers that your neighbour’s teenage son hasn’t quite mastered yet!

Medical Translation

Hand-written doctor’s notes in particular …

As a medical translator close to 20 years now, a strangely rewarding part of my job has been deciphering doctors’ hand-written scribbles. The countless number of times a case manager has expressed their undying love for me for having either converted hand-written English medical notes into English medical notes – yes you read that correctly – or transformed a random squiggle into a concrete medical treatment plan quite simply fills me with joy.

At such times, I don my superhero cape; I am not a translator, I am someone who makes sure that a claim can be processed, so that a patient can receive the benefits they so desperately need to continue their treatment or recovery.   

Legal Translation

My other superpower has to do with estates, specifically executors and beneficiaries.

Indeed, any legal translator could go to bed patting themselves on the back. Our work here is not merely to translate one French idea into its English counterpart, but rather we ensure that the final desires of a loved one who passed away can be carried out in accordance with their wishes.

Whether in the shape of a Last Will and Testament, Codicil, or even a POA, we ensure that personal property and assets, not to mention a lifetime’s worth of accomplishments and possessions are administered and allocated with the same love and care that it took the testator to amass it – to say nothing of living wills, trusts or guardianships, where people’s very lives are at stake.

Certified Translation

I can’t possibly express just you how much joy this particular type of translation project brings me.

Knowing that I played a part in bringing families together by translating their adoption applications and associated supporting documentation really makes me want to assume my Wonder Woman pose. Typing away on my computer has united children with their new families. It truly transcends words!

As for other types of certified translations, we translators accompany our clients on their different journey: enabling them to study abroad, move to a foreign country, immigrate to the US or Canada, obtain government funding for their research and so much more.

Now, let’s see the teenage neighbour do that!

Bringing peace of mind to non-French- or English-speakers!

I recently completed the translation of an Anti-bullying and Anti-violence Policy into English. Beyond the actual words that made up the Parents’ Guide to School Bullying, my primary role was to assuage any fears or anxieties parents may experience when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of their children while in school. Something Google translate can never accomplish.

Also, a recent translation of the Guide for English Speakers to Access Health and Social Services in Laval actually ensures that an entire community has access to fundamental health services.

Any linguistic disparity can have significant repercussions, especially in the medical field, where misunderstandings, errors in dosage, or even exposure to unnecessary risks can have far-reaching consequences. This type of work once again transcends the basic notion of translation, it is essential to ensuring the quality and safety of overall healthcare services.

And while I swore that I would never talk about COVID again, here we are. The sheer effort and energy we translators exerted throughout this entire pandemic to decipher the often-conflicting recommendations and guidelines in order to stop the spread of the virus, enabled our clients to remain operational during this strangest and most tumultuous of periods. I could just as easily sing the praises of my fellow colleagues, who undoubtedly have very similar stories and superpowers.

So, while it could be argued that translators make the world a better place by bringing people together, the truth of the matter is that in his/her very own personal way, every translator not only helped each of their clients achieve success, but together we make the world work. We are the power that drives the engines of communication that moves things forward!

I hope you enjoyed this quick peek into what we translators actually do. I would love to know what superhero cape you see yourself wearing … so, let me know your superpower!